Start/Parking:
I started at Over Haddon car park which is very easy to find
OS grid reference SK204664. Or if you’re using a Sat Nav (post code DE45 1JE)

The parking charges (April 2013)

1 hour - £1.20

2 hours - £1.90

3 hours - £3.00

4 hours - £4.00

Over 4 hours - £5.00

Coach per 2 hours £5.30

10pm – 8am 40p

Don't forget your change! There are no shops.

This is what you're looking for - Lead Ore and fosilised Crinoids

For disabled parking there is a small area to park down the hill past St Anne’s Church (On the last bend just before Lathkill lodge. There wasn’t a machine there so I presume it is free parking.

Walk Summary: I started the walk, with my wife, at 10.30am and we arrived back at the car park at 2.30pm. So we took 4 hours but weren’t in a rush. This Lathkill dale walk is an excellent way to explore pre-historic fossils, caves, mandale mine and Bateman’s House.

The walk is relatively flat except the slight climb near Monyash. You could walk to Monyash and retrace your steps but I prefer circular walks rather than looking at the same scenery.

Leave
the car park on the path to the right of the car park pay machine and turn
right down the road. It is signposted Lathkill Dale (No surprise there then).
If you look closely at the wall on the right you will start to see some
fossils. You’ll pass St Anne’s church on the left.

Follow the road all the way down to Lathkill
lodge. Walk to the left past the lodge and you’ll see the medieval bridge
crossing the river lathkill. You’ll see evidence of many feet having passed
over the bridge which has smoothed the rock down. You’ll also see evidence of
Health and Safety gone barmy with the attached handrail!! May be the council
should employ a lifeguard just in case.

Anyway,
don’t go over the bridge, turn back and take the path on the left into Lathkill
dale. You’ll see some small holes in the limestone on the right. These are “Adits”
which are holes where minors looked for Lead Ore veins.

You’ll come to 2 large gate posts either side of
the path and just beyond on the left is a drainage tunnel (or Sough). The
drainage tunnel is part of the Mandale Mine Engine House. You’ll find the
engine house on the right of the main path.

Take the path through
the trees.

You’ll find the ruined building and an excellent explanation post just behind it. There are some rough steps leading up to the mine entrance. Above the entrance you’ll see a vein of Lead ore. I found some rocks scattered on the floor full of the ore. The rocks felt unnaturally heavy. Just before you return the main path again, walk to the right of the ruins to the small exposed rock face. You’ll see lots of fossil brachiopods piled on top of each other.

Continue
along the main path past the aqueduct remains. The aqueduct carried water from
the river to drive the water wheel at Mandale mine, which pumped water from the
mine.

You’ll
soon pass the ruins of the Bateman’s House. This unusual building was originally built in 1830 by the
Lathkill Dale Mining Company to cover a 12m deep shaft housing a novel design
of a water-powered pump to drain their lead mines. It later became the family
home for the company's agent James Bateman. You can visit the shaft underneath
so take your torch as the lights aren’t working anymore.

Back on the main path. You’ll eventually come to a gate which takes you into the Lathkill Dale meadows. On the left are 2 Mill stones and a large deep pool (on the right) which is evidence of an old corn mill. The pool was built to power the mill.

Continue along the path. You’ll pass the Lathkill Head Cave, which is the source of the River Lathkill, and then through the disused quarries.

You’ll know when you are near Monyash because
you pass the final gate and the path opens up into a wide green area. On the
right you’ll find a path going uphill. Take the path to the top where you’ll
find a round water hole (for sheep possibly). Follow the path next to the wall
on the left. At the bottom we are turning left. (If you did turn right the
path will take you to Ricklow quarry).

Anyway
turn left through Ricklow Dale. You’ll come to a sign indicating a path which
crosses the field going upwards on the right – follow this path. You continue
along this path all the way to the camping field at Haddon Grove farm. Go
through the camping field to the left and exit the farm buildings. You’ll come
to the corner of the lane, turn right and follow the road all the way to Over
Haddon to complete the lathkill dale walk. As you reach Over Haddon you’ll see “Main Street” The car park is just
down this road.

Now
I don’t know about you but we fancy a beer after a walk like this. The only
place in Over Haddon is the Lathkil Hotel. We did pay it a visit and had a
pint. It was a little expensive and the “Take your boots off before entering
sign” was a bit of a turn off.

I hope you have enjoyed this lathkill dale walk please let us know what you thought and post some of your photos for other visitors to our web site to see.